Chelsea will be up against a familiar name when they take to the field for their most important Champions League game of the season against Napoli.
Liam Rosenior, in just his sixth game in charge of the club, goes up against Premier League winner Antonio Conte, with the Blues having the chance to secure their place in the top eight of the group stages.
Conte still has admiration for Chelsea fans and the club, however it is fair to say his two years at the club did not end in the best way.
Antonio Conte loves the new Chelsea owners 😬
Do they come anywhere near close to Roman Abramovich?
Antonio Conte on Chelsea
Photo by SSC NAPOLI/SSC NAPOLI via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
The decision was made to part ways with the Italian despite the fact he won the FA Cup in his final game in charge.
nainggolan chelsea
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Why Chelsea decided to sack Antonio Conte
Eden Hazard scored the winning goal against Manchester United in 2018, however the relationship between the manager and star player had deteriorated way before this stage.
According to The Telegraph back in 2018, the two had clashed after Conte questioned the commitment levels of Hazard at Stamford Bridge, with this getting back to the decision makers of the club.
The Belgian, who had frequently sacrificed his own game for the good of the rest of the side, was reportedly weighing up his options at this stage, but still stayed with the Blues for another season.
The Telegraph goes on to talk about how the relationship also deteriorated with senior players such as David Luiz and Willian. The former was nearly completely frozen out for the majority of Conte’s final weeks in charge.
All of this combined to the club feeling as if they could not see him enter the third year of his contract, and he was replaced that summer by Maurizio Sarri.
Chelsea v Manchester United - The Emirates FA Cup Quarter-Final
Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Conte and Diego Costa saga
One of the most notable moments which occurred off the pitch during Conte’s reign was the sudden departure of Diego Costa after they had won the league.
NAME AND SHAME: Who is the worst manager Chelsea have ever appointed?😬
Diego Costa names Antonio Conte as the worst Chelsea manager
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
The Spain international had been the club’s top scorer in the 2016/17 campaign, but reportedly received a text message announcing he was no longer in the manager’s plans.
Costa still holds this against Conte, revealing in a recent interview that very few of the Chelsea squad actually liked their manager at the time.
There will be some quarters of the Chelsea fanbase very hopeful their current squad and Rosenior will get one over on Conte in Naples.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox